Thursday Takes: Semi Final Edition

By Matt Fotia 

After three and half gruelling months, we’ve finally arrived at the business end of the SSN season. 

It’s time to let the emotions take over and let even more of those raw, unfiltered views spill out. 

Thursday Takes forges on, with a look at the clubs still in the race for the 2025 premiership. 

Check it out below. 

FEVER 

Let’s be honest. Anything less than the premiership is a failure from the Fever. 

Okay, that might be a little bit of an over exaggeration, but when you dig beneath the surface there really isn’t a reason, they don’t claim the crown in 2025. 

Their own form is magnificent, having won a record-breaking 12 games in a row, they’re hosting the Major Semi Final and have match winners on every line, led by the best player in the world, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. 

Then look at their challengers. 

The Swifts have coughed and spluttered their way to the line, having lost three of their last five, the Thunderbirds are without their iconic goal keeping powerhouse Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and the Vixens aren’t willing to look to their bench until it's too late. 

There’s no excuses for the Fever in 2025. 

SWIFTS 

Need to take a collective deep breath and reset. 

With the regular season wrapped, the Swifts need to find a way to hit the reset button and start again. 

Briony Akle’s side look frustrated. With themselves, with the umpires, with the fact they can’t seem to shrug these late season wobbles. 

Moments like Verity Simmons passionate conversation with the umpires at half time, and Sarah Klau cheekily kicking the ball away, mixed with their high penalty count (71) are further evidence that the Swifts aren’t quite right. 

They need to take a step back and look at the positives of their situation. 

They still found a way to win against the Firebirds. 

Despite their poor form they still have the double chance. 

And most importantly they have the weapons at their disposal to make a real play at the crown. 
 

THUNDERBIRDS 

Had the perfect preparation. 

In a month’s time the Thunderbirds might be looking back on their win-or-go home round 14 clash with the Lightning as a key moment in their historic threepeat. 

Tania Obst’s side had a practice run at finals like intensity on Saturday night, as the reigning premiers found a way to outwill the Lightning and nab Minor Semi Final hosting rights. 

The Thunderbirds responded well to multiple challenges, both midway through the second quarter when they trailed by three and late when the Lightning threw all they had at an unlikely victory. 

Importantly the Thunderbirds also got minutes into some key role players, including Tayla Williams who racked up 14 feeds and nine assist in her 26 minutes on court, while Sanmarie Visser made an impact off the bench with two gains in her 25 minutes of gametime. 

Goal Attack Lauren Frew also impressed, with 12 goals, 17 feeds and 10 assists, just in time for a crucial three weeks of netball. 

The dream is still alive. 
 
VIXENS 

Must play the game, not the occasion. 

The Vixens are off the Adelaide once more, to take on the Thunderbirds in a mouth-watering semi-final match up to kickstart a super Sunday. 

And everyone knows the narrative. 

The Vixens have lost five in a row to the Thunderbirds. 

And they’ve lost four in a row at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, by an average of 13.75 goals. 

Suddenly, the Vixens aren’t just taking on a Thunderbirds side who finished above them on the ladder due to percentage, or the team who lost both of their games against the GIANTS. 

They’re taking on a stadium, a story arc, a pattern of events, or a curse if you will. 

It can be easy in these situations to build the narrative into your preparation. 

And while in a film or novel, weaving this into your preparation would be great motivation for the Vixens, the reality is that they should do the complete opposite. 

Focus on your processes. 

Control the controllables. 

Play the game, not the occasion.